John R. Hottle

Globally, technology is a driver of innovation and subsequently, job creation. Niche markets and specialization have helped to create such segmentation across all global industries that broad concepts of technology are hard to come by. This allows W Brian Arthur's book The Nature of Technology to stand above publications that dabble with similar concepts, providing the ultimate clarification of technology in the modern setting.

Continue reading "Society, Culture, and Technology: W. Brian Arthur's "The Nature of Technology"" »

Posted by John R Hottle at 10:35 AM | Permalink

While companies like Microsoft may use R&D to look into the unknown and explore with no boundaries (as noted in my previous article here), it is clear that the usage of R&D knowledge workers within any enterprise or corporation are dependent on their respective market. Yet, the beauty of information and communication technologies is that virtually all companies in all markets around the globe are increasing technological capabilities and expanding their companies simultaneously with the growth of the current information era.


One example of this can be found within the R&D lab of the New York Times, who in 2009 was focusing heavily on the next generation of marketing and advertising. As quoted in an article from the Nieman Journalism Lab online (from Harvard), some of these innovations included the following:

Continue reading "The future of R&D: job creation. part 2" »

Posted by John R Hottle at 01:38 PM | Permalink

When designing any product or interface, the end value as perceived by the user is key. Limitations and features of the interface at hand are under a microscope, which is why it is of the utmost importance for designers to analyze and foresee the likely uses of the interface. However one may find it best to understand in his or her own opinion - designing for the user, user centered design, design with the user in mind - the concept is the same, and relies heavily on R&D, problem solving, and analysis.


When designing any interface or product, the following questions/concerns must be considered:
Who are the users? What are their tasks and goals? What is the experience level of the user with the interface or like interfaces? What does the user want the interface to do/how do they want it to function? How do the users expect the interface to work?


To give a cliche statement on these processes of UCD, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Continue reading "Usability: what is user centered design (UCD)?" »

Posted by John R Hottle at 01:49 PM | Permalink

R&D is a very manageable driver of success at the enterprise level. At large companies (as noted in a cnet news article) it is "shifting from the traditional inward focus to more outward-looking management--open innovation--that draws on technologies from networks of universities, start-ups, suppliers and competitors."

Although we (the U.S.) still stand atop most global rankings for R&D investment and productivity, it has become apparent that other countries such as Asia and Europe are aggressively closing this gap, subsequently posing a challenge to the U.S., while creating an opportunity for a new kind of innovation - innovation through globalization. As stated by Steve Hamm in an article from about a year ago, "the future of research will transcend national boundaries and corporate walls."

Continue reading "The future of R&D: job creation. part 1" »

Posted by John R Hottle at 02:52 PM | Permalink

Howard Becker's Tricks, as noted in the title of his book Tricks of the Trade, may seem cliche' as far as titles go. Yet, Becker clarifies this concept on page 6 of the book when he states "I am talking about the trade of sociologists or... about the trade of studying society... The tricks I have in mind are tricks that help those doing that kind of work to get on with it, whatever professional title they use."
What exactly are these tricks the author has in mind?

Continue reading "Tricks and Tools for Researchers - Becker's "Tricks of the Trade"" »

Posted by John R Hottle at 06:26 PM | Permalink